Brian Wheeler reports: The idea of people you have never met before leafing through your medical records would make most people a little uneasy. Even if the people in question are highly qualified health professionals. Read more in the BBC
Author: Dissent
Medical data released by accident on 3,700 Blue Cross Blue Shield members
Dan Shortridge reports: A printing error disclosed the private medical information of about 3,700 Blue Cross Blue Shield members in Delaware to other insurance company subscribers. People who were affected by the problem should have received letters today notifying them of the accidental disclosure. […] The problem centers around explanation of benefits forms that were…
Online Comments Lead To Privacy Complaint
Karen Welles of WPXI reports: From April 2003 until the end of last year, the federal government has received nearly 1,500 complaints from patients in Pennsylvania, alleging privacy violations under HIPAA. One case has angered local women so much that they switched doctors. It centers on a myspace page created in the name of Stephanie…
UK: Rogue doctor accessed files for ‘unknown reasons’
Helen Puttick reports: Seven prominent BBC journalists are among a group of patients who have been warned that their personal health records may have been inappropriately accessed by a doctor. In a letter from NHS Fife, the patients, who include presenter Jackie Bird and Elizabeth Quigley, the reporter wife of Finance Secretary John Swinney, have…
CA: Private medical records found in trash
Salvador Hernandez reports: Boxes with documents detailing confidential patient information, such as Social Security numbers and personal medical history, were found discarded next to a medical office building, which officials said could be a violation of patient confidentiality laws. The documents, which were retrieved by a doctor about 90 minutes after they were discovered, could…
University of Utah follow-up: Plea deal offered in stolen medical records case
KSL reported on Nov. 14: Prosecutors say they’ve offered a plea deal to two men accused of obtaining stolen medical records. Thomas Anderson and Shadd Hartman each are charged with one count of felony theft by receiving stolen property and a count of unlawful possession of another’s identification documents. The Salt Lake Tribune reports prosecutors…